RAISING THE WIND. 301 



wrapped in slumber, the flames gradually decreased, 

 and when I awoke benumbed all over, and my feet, 

 oh ! so cold ! nought was in the place of the red pile 

 I last looked upon but a few calcined log ends and a 

 heap of smouldering ashes ; so to work I set with a 

 will, carried more logs to their destruction, collected 

 the burnt ends, raked the ashes together, and blew 

 right earnestly until a ruddy blaze appeared ; then 

 heaping on more logs, and becoming thoroughly 

 warmed, I once more lay down to sleep, my com- 

 panions dozing, snoring, growling, and starting, in 

 happy unconsciousness of my proceedings. 



We were up and afoot each day about dayhght, 

 and encamped, as described, at sunset ; our fare was 

 pemmican uncooked, and although not very enticing 

 in flavour, it is in my opinion the finest and most 

 convenient sustenance one can carry : we consumed 

 upon the average about two pounds per day, havnig 

 notliing else but a little cocoa in the morning, and we 

 never felt hungry or weak. Our road lay through 

 dense forests, across numerous lakes and one or two 

 small rivers, all now frozen over and covered with 

 snow ; the path is marked in woods by " blazing " 

 large trees and breaking down small ones, and when 

 about to cross lakes, travellers carry branches and 

 tops of small trees and stick them in the snow at 



